Spectacular 9ft coathanger Christ goes on display

Published on Tuesday 20 July 2010 15:36

IT is a scene depicted the world over, portrayed in everything from jewellery and ornaments to paintings and statues.

But today,for the first time, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ will be portrayed through the medium of 3000 coathangers.

The 9ft tall sculpture was set to be unveiled outside St Giles' Cathedral by acclaimed sculptor David Mach, who is renowned for his artwork made out everyday items including coathangers, match sticks and bricks.

The crucifixion scene was due to be transported to the Royal Mile this morning and lowered into its spot in Parliament Square, just outside the cathedral.

But the spectacular site is not to become a permanent fixture on the Royal Mile, more a five-hour taster for Mach's new exhibition of work based on scenes from the Bible which will be unveiled at the City Art Centre in Market Street next summer.

Mach placed the actual creation of the sculpture in the hands of Peebles-based art fabricators Relicarte, who also constructed the artist's coathanger gorilla.

They have spent three-and-a-half months creating the crucifixion scene through the welding together of 3000 individually-bent coathangers.

Mach, who is originally from Fife, only saw his work come to life for the first time on Monday.

He admitted he was "a bit concerned" about how the grand unveiling of his work would turn out.

But he added: "It looks fantastic and I think it's going to be a very photogenic thing.

"It will be quite dramatic. I hope it all goes well, I'm a bit concerned about it."

Mach said he has had a positive reaction to his sculpture.

He said: "I take things that are very ordinary. A coathanger is a nothing thing, but it's something everybody has and I like that connection.

"(The reaction] has been really interesting, so far it's been incredibly positive.

"You would expect people to be suspicious of what I'm doing but St Giles' were very good with us."

It is understood the sculpture was originally meant to go inside St Giles' but was too big to fit through the door, so had to stand outside, with the cathedral providing a backdrop.

Aegir Maciver, owner of Relicarte in Peebles, said it was "satisfying" to see the finished result after months of work.

He said: "It looks fantastic.It's really quite an aggressive-looking piece. We have built it on a wooden cross, so it's much like Jesus."

After the sculpture's stint in the Capital, it will be taken back to Mr Maciver's studio, where more exhibits for the forthcoming exhibition, which marks the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, will be created.

The exhibition will take place during the Festival next year.